Rotary valve.



G. VGN ROTTWEILBR.

' ROTARY VALVE.

APPLIATION FILED 1350.11, 1911.

1,049,607, Patented Jan; 7, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1. Q

III' 'li G. VON ROTTWEILER.

ROTARY VALVE. APPLIOATIO'N FILED 11110.11. 1911.

1,049,607. I rammed @111913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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G. VON ROTTWEILER.

ROTARY VALVE.

APPLIGATION FILED man. 1911.

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i GEoitGEvvon no'rrWnILER, or snEBoYeAN, WIsooNsIN.

ROTARY vALvE.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Jan.' 7, l1913.

Application filed` December 11, 1911.. Serial No. 665,112.

To all Awhom z't may concern others skilled -in the art to i tains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to interna-l combus- I tion engines, and more especially to those ofthe four-cycle type comprising a rotary! valve; and the object of the same fis to replace the comm-on spring-closed vvalve with 'a single vrotary member made tubular andI cooled by the passage of water throughout;

its lengt wear willbe as little as possible.

'Still another object is to vprovide for the automatic oiling of this valve.

These and other objects are accomplished; by the construction set forth in the following specification and claims, and as'shownj in the drawings wherein- Figure 1 is'a central longitudinal section of the upper portion of a four-cylinder fourcycle gasolene engine, containing a rotary valve embodying my invention; Figs. 2 and 3 lare cross sections on the lines2-2 andv 3-3 lrespectively of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of fthe valve itself, partly broken avay; Fig. 5 :is an enlarged detailin side elevation showing the removable roller for 'causing the longitudinal reciprocation or oscillation of' the valvegFiG.' 6 is a cross section on the line 6-6'of FIg. 7, the latter view being a side elevation of a portion# of the val-ve, and both these views illustrating an amplification embodying an adjustable cam member. j

In the drawings is illustrated a four-cycle "gasolene engine such as is commonly employed in automobiles, flying machines, and the like, although itwill=be clear that my invention could be applied to other types of engines and even to those using other liquid fuel. Much diiiculty is experienced with engines of this character in providing simple and efficient mechanism for opening and closing the various valves at the proper time,

and especially in constructing such mecha- Another 'object isto provide for the rotation of this valve in such a manner that its L nism in a manner 'whichwill permit of the replacement ofworn'parts such as the pushrods, valve-stems, and-the cams [on the camshaft. Diiiicult-y is also experienced with the springs which-hold the valves to their seats, and with .leakage around `the valves when closed. Thefparts also become overheated and fouled with soot and' carbon deposits. .In a four-cylinder gas engine there are eight valves, their number alone necessit-atlng considerable work when they have to be ground or adjusted.

It is the object of the present invention to avoid these difficulties as muchas possible, and ,also to simplify the construction of an engine of this character and render its valve mechanism readily replaceable when necessary.

Those features in the drawings referred to by reference letters are well known in engines of this type. That is to say, Pf, P2, P3, P* designate the four pistonsrhere illus-v 'trated as reciprocating vertically within the four cylinders C', C2, C3, C4, 'the latter surrounded by a waterjacket W to which the water is admitted at the bottom in a manner well known and from which it is returned through the hose R to the radiator not shown. Each cylinder may be through a pet cock P, and its charge 1s fired at a proper time by means of the spark plug S,- thev mixture entering through the intake I` and the spent gases passing'out the exhaust E as usual.

` Broadly speaking, rit is the purpose of the present invention to provideva single rotary valve which will control the inlet to and from all the cylinders at the proper -time. f Y

The numeral l designates my yimproved tubular valve as a whole, the same'having a body which is cylindrical in general contour land ,by preference provided -with ten annular grooves v2' for the reception ofpacking rings' 3, each ring and its groove being independentlyoiled as at 4` and all of them being automatically oiled by a longitudinal duct 5 extending throughout the casing and intersecting the individual ducts 4, this'lonygit'udinalor main' d uct 5 being fed'through a pipe 6 from any suitable source and preferably being Iplugged at both 'ends as at 7 so that it may be cleaned out. The shell or body of the valve has heads 8 at it-s extremipierced with central openings 9, and

rimed set up by a gland nut 13, and the packing' may be lubricated as a` 14. The extension from the fro-nt head 8 is made longer in the form of a stem 15 also journaled'in a bearing 16 having packingr 17 and a gland nut 18, buty this stem is also by preference mounted in an additional bearing 19 having 'its packing 20 and gland nut 21. The

'innermost bearingis detachably secured as by screws 22 to the front end of the engine casing, and the outermost bearing19-1s car- 'ried by a cup 123 also secured as by screws 24 to said casing so' that the body of the cup entirely incloses the innermost bearing; Into an opening 25,;preferably at the top of this c'up,` is screwed a pipe 26-which connects with the return. hose R .leading to the radiator.

projects throughf the forward bearing 19 and its gland nut receives the means for'rotating my improved p valve, which in the present case consists of a sprocket wheel 27 keyed on the stem as at 28 and'driven by av chain 29 leading downward to another sprocket on some other shaft of the engine which need not be shown; and finally a cover plate 30 incloses this driving mechanism and is 'rendered removable by means of screws 31. Obviously any other suitable means could be employed for rotating my improved valve, this driving mechanism being shown simply for purposes of illustrating one form of such means.

Attention is directed to the fact that the distance between the inner faces of the bearings 11 and 16 is greater than the distance between the outer faces of the heads 8, thereby permitting the entire valve to have a certain longitudinal looseness fora purpose which will appear below.

The water jacket W communicates as at 32 through thebore 33 ofV the` nipple 10 with the interior of the valve bod whence the water passes out\ the bore 34 o the stem 15 (the front extremity of this stem being` closed by a screw plug 35) and thence radially outward through holes 36 1n said Istem into the interior of the cup 23 whence the warm water passes upward through the pipe 26 and along the return hose R to the radiator. A 4 n `Referring now to Figs. 2 and `3, it will be seen that the water jacket W surrounding the cylinders is in communication with the water jacket 40 which surrounds the. casin 41 in which the valve rotates, this jacket being made up of said lcasing as its inner wall and an outer casing or shell 42 as itsl outer wall. The drawingsshow such shell 42 as inclosing the intake pipe I and the-exhaust pipe E, but this construction is not necessary to the successful operation of my improved valve although it may be well to adopt' it so that the jacket W around the cylinders will communicate with the general jacklet inclosing said intake and exhaust pipes and the'casingv of the valve. The interior of said casing communicates through two ports 45 and 46 with the upper end of each cylinder, these ports being respectively employed as the inlet land outlet ports in a manner which will appear below; and the interior of the shell furthermore communicates through proper ports 47 and 48 with the intake manifold I and the exhaust mani, fold If the engine be constructed as illustrated in the drawings, the intake and exhaust ports are disposed at opposite sides of the shell 42 and a little below its Vertical center, whereas the ports into the cylinders are directly through thebottom of said shell l Y and all eight of them stand tandem along The extremity of the stem 15 where it' the central line-of the engine; and all said .ports are surroundedby metal tubes which in turn are inclosed within the water so that the parts are kept cool. Coacting with a valve casing thus constructed and connected, the valve body 1 is provided with eight ports which in the present case take the form of channels indented into or cast with the metal of the shell and each channel occupying about one hundred and twenty degrees of the circle on which the shell is struck. There are two of these ports for each cylinder so that with a four-cyl- `inder englne there would be eight ports or channels in all throughout the length of the valve, and they are disposed as best seen at 55 and 56 at the right end of Fig. 1 so that they will register respectively with the inlet port 45 and the exhaust port 46 of each-cylinder when the heads 8 of the rotary valve stand equally spaced from the two bearings 11 and 16 for a purpose to appear below. It will not be necessary for the purposes of this specification to amplify and explain in detail the exact position of. these valve ports or channels, further than to say that as usual they are so disposed with respect to each other and each pair is so disposed with respect to all other pairs and the movements of the. pistons so tuned that a channel 55 throws a cylinder C into communication with the inlet I just at the moment when its piston is about to descend so that a charge is sucked into the cylinder, thereafter the charge is compressed and fired as usual with engines of this character,"and later the opposite channel 56 throws the same cylinder into communication with the exhaust E just at a time when the pist-on is about to rise and expel the spent gases.

' The parts having once been properly set, I consider it an advantage that the various ports or channels within this rotary valve are immovable with respect to' each other orv -the rotary valve be established so that they will work in proper conjunction and be properly timed relative to each other.

iol

I prefer to employ piston y'rings 3, 3 disposed inv grooves 2 around the exterior of they-valve as shown, `rather than cylinder f" rings situatedin groovesgaround the interior of its casing, because '-by4 the construction illustrated the rings canjbe withdrawn with vr.the valve in a manner-tobe described below,

Whereas they could not b'e so withdrawn if they were located Within the casing. However, lthe utility .of'either y construction is now apparent. It is necessary that a clear line of divisionbe established between the intake' and exhaust'ports, the inlet and out? let openings to and from each cylinder, and the channels in the valve which connect these ports and openings at proper times. 'Butit .is conceivable that if the valve rotated constantly in one position, the rings would wear thatpart against which they bear; and with the object of giving this engine the longest life I therefore employ the following detail of construction. The innermostcylinders C2 and C3 are ably spaced apart a little farther lthan Vthe others, and around thisportion of the valve is formed'a cam groove 60 cooperating with some relatively fixed member such as the roller 6l at the inner end of a screw 62 which is passed inward through the valve casing at a proper point as seen in Fig. 3. The groove 60 being slightly elliptical,lrather than struck around the cylinder in a plane exactly at right angles to its axis, as the valve rotates it therefore has a slight longitudinal reciprocation or oscillation which is permitted by the distance between its heads 8 and itsend bearings 1l and 16 mentioned above. The result of this detail of construction is that no one point in the exterior of the valve rotates within its casing on a true circle, but the width of the channels 55 and 56 is'suiiicient to permit them to register with the inlet and outlet openings 45 and 46 in each cylinder and with the intake and exhaust openings 47 and 48 in any posit-ion of the valve as it is moved to and fro by this cam arrangement; and the result thereof is that the compound rotary and reciprocatory movement imparted Ato the valvev will give all parts a longer lifekthan if this detail were not-employed. v

An amplification of' the above detail is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. Here the groove 63 is cut or formed around the exterior of the valve ina plane truly at right angles to .its axis, and within this groove 1s mounted a prefercollar 64 itself having the cam groove .60 in its outer'face; and in the bottom of this collar isa set screw 65 whose tip is adapted to engage the bottom of the groove 63 as shown in Fig. 6. As it isA possible that the parts-would wear unevenly if the cylinder rotated in a plane strictly at rightv anglesto its axis, so also it is possible thatvif i't rotated constantly in ,one oblique plane as by the use of the cam groove shown in Fig. 4,

`the parts would'wear in time;` but with the use of this modification or amplification just described, the screw and roller .shown in Fig. 5 `may be removed at times and a fine screw driver inserted through the hole so which the collar 64 may be. turned slightly within the groove 63, and the parts restored to their original position. Thereafter it will be obvious that the elliptical 'path described by any point upon the surface of so i that the set screw 65 can be loosened, after the valve as it rotates will be slightly dif- 'p ferent from that inscribed beforethe setting of this collar, although thel timing of the engine. will not have been interrupted in the least. It is quite obvious that with either construction of this detail it is not necessary that the cam groove and the rela-` The operation of this improved, enginewill now be clear. The explosive mixture being fed through the intake I, at proper moments a channel 55 throws one of the intake ports or pipes 47 into communication with the inlet opening 45 in -a cylinder, the latter then descends so as to draw in a charge, meanwhile' the -valve rotates until the channel cutsoffcommunication between the intake and the outlet opening, the piston then ascends and compresses the charge and the firing occurs, this causes the piston to descend, next the other channel 56 es-v tablishes communication between the outletopening 46 and the port or pipe 48 leading into the exhaust manifold, and 'finally the piston ascends to force. o-ut the spent gases. Meanwhile'the rotary valve has been moved slightly to and fro by means of the-cam groove and the relatively fixed member with which it engages, but as shown above this movement does not interrupt the successful 4action of the'engine. Next another cylinrior of the cup 23, and up the pipe 26 to the return hose R whence it is led to the radiator as usual. If the shell 42 be of such shape that it incloses the inlet and exhaust manifolds as seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the cooling agent may also flow around these manifolds and around the pipes 47 and 48 surrounding their ports or points of communication with the valve casing 41; but as above suggested this detail of construction may be safely left to the manufacturer.`

f I have purposely omitted illustration and description of other parts usually employed in engines'of this type, such as the fan, the means for force-feeding the oil, the crank shaft, the fly wheel, and starting device; and also the water pump which, however, I `preferably employ because the water jacket' space is so ample if the engine be constructed as has been set forth. Obviously the oil flows through the pipe 6 and into the main or duct 5 from which it passes through the individual ducts 4i into the groove containing the packing rings 3, and if desired the pet cocks shown in Fig. 1 may be employed to additionally oil or lubricate any rings which appear to be tight.

When now i't is desired t-omwithdraw this valve from place as for inspection or repair,

the screws 3l are taken out and the cover plate 30 removed, the valve-rotating mechanism is withdrawn from the stem 15 as by removing the key 2S and pulling off the sprocket 27 if one be employed -as shown, and at this time the interior of the valve can be reached as for cleaning by simply removing the plug 35. 1f this be not sufficient, the pipe 26 may be unscrewed from the threaded opening 25, the screws 24 removed andv the entire cup 23 taken off, then the screws 22 can be removed andthe-entire bearing 16 taken oif, and thereafter the rotary valve with all its ringscan be withdrawn from its casing because the nipple l() will pull out of the bearing 11 in a manner which is obvious. Having inspected and possibly repaired the same, all parts can be restored by a reversal of this operation. As above suggested, if the collar shown in Fig. 7 be employed, it is quite possible to vary or adjust its position by reaching through the opening exposed by withdrawing the screw 62; but if not, then this collar can be set by the method just described.

1t is obviously unnecessary to elaborate as to the exact proportions, materials or construction of parts other than' as herein set forth.

YVhat is claimed as new is:

l. The combination with a cylinder having inlet and outlet ports, and the intake and exhaust pipes; of a valve casing having ports communicating respectively with those in the cylinder and with said pipes, a hollow valve rotating within said'casing and having external channels in its wall so located as to connect said inlet port with the intake and said outlet port with the exhaust at proper times, and means for flowing a cooling agent throughout the body of the valve and simultaneously around its casing.

2. The combination with a series of cylinders each having inlet and outlet ports, a. water-jacket surrounding the cylinders, and the intake and exhaust; of a valve casing .having ports communicating respectively with those in each cylinder and with said intake and exhaust, a tubular valve rotating within said casing and having in its wall a series of channels so located as to connect the intake with the inlet port of each cylinder' and the exhaust with the outlet port thereof at proper times, a connection between said water jacket and one end of the bore of said valve, and means for establishing communication between the other end thereof and said jacket.

3. The combination with a series of cylinders having inlet and outlet ports, a'water jacket surrounding the cylinders, and the intake and exhaust manifolds; of a tubular valve casing extending along said series, pipes connecting its interior with t-he various ports in the several cylinders and with both manifolds, a shell inclosing said casing and pipes and in internal communication with said jacket, a tubular valve rotating within the casing and having in its wall a series of channels arranged in pairs Whose members are so located adjacent each cylinder as to connect its inlet port with the intake and its outlet port with the cxhaust at proper times, and means for establishing communication between said jacket and the bore of said valve.

4. The combination with a series of cylinders having inlet and outlet ports, a water jacket surrounding the cylinders, and the intake and exhaust manifolds; of a tubular valve easing extending along said series, pipes connecting its interior with the various ports in the several cylinders and with both manifolds,a shell inclosing both manifolds and said casing and pipes and in internal communication with said jacket, a tubular valve rotating within the casing and having in its wall a series of channels so located and timed as to successively connect the pipes leading to the inlet ports of the various cylinders with those leading to the intake manifold and the pipes leading to the outlet ports of the various cylinders with those leading to the exhaust manifold, and means for establishing communication between said jacket and the bore to said valve.

5. The combination with a series of c vlinders having inlet and outlet ports, a water jacket surrounding the cylinders and extending to the rear end of the series, and the intake and exhaustmanifolds; of a tubular valve casing extending along said series and having ports respectively in communication withsaid manifolds and with the ports'in said cylinders, a tubular valve rotating within the casing and having peripheral channels in its wall so located as to'throw the cylinders successively into com-l munication with the intake and exhaust respectively, tubular extensions at the extremities of said valve, a shell inclosing the extension at the rear end and its interior communicating with said water jacket, and

a cup inclosing the` forward extension with its interior communicating therewith and with a pipe adapted to be connected with a radiator.

6. The combination with a series of cylinders having inlet and outlet ports, awater jacket surrounding the series, and the' intake and exhaust manifolds; of a tubular` valve casing extending along said series and having ports respectively in communication with said manifolds and with the ports in said cylinders, a tubular valverotating within the 'casing and having peripheral channels in its wall so located as to throw the cylinders successively into communication'with the intake and exhaust respectively, tubular extensions at the extremities of said valve, a shell inclosing the extension at 'the rear end and its interior communicating with said Water jacket, a cup inclosing the forward extension and its interior adapted for connection with the radiator, this extension havinglateral holes communicating with -said cup and internal threads at its extremity, a plug closing the latter, and a bearing closely surrounding this extension Where 1t projects through the g. The combination with a yseries of\cyl inders having inlet and outlet ports, a water jacket surrounding the series, and the intake and exhaust manifolds; of a tubular valve casing extendingalong said series and having ports respectively in communication with said manifolds, and with the4 ports in said cylinders', 1a' tubular valve rotating Within the casing and having peripheral channels in its wall so located asto throw the cylinders successively' into communication with the `intake and exhaust respectively, a tubular'e'xtension at the rearend of said valve, means for throwing it into'communication with the water jacket, a tubular l stem projecting from the fro-nt end of said valveand provided with lateral holes, a' plugre'movably closing .its front extremity,

bearings surrounding the stem in frontfand in rear of said holes, detachable connections between the'rearmostbearing and the valve casin a cup carrying th`e foremost bearing and etachably'connecte'd 'with said.- casing,

' and av pipe communicating with the interior for the-purpose set forth; of a tubular valve casing therefor having ports with which said channels communicate at proper times, the casing having a longitudinal oil duct along its top and a series of individual ducts communicating with vit and disposed opposite the grooves in the valve, and packing rings within the grooves. I

`9. In a valve of the class described, the combination with the tubular.body having in itsperiphery a series o f grooves and a series of channels for the purpose set forth; of a tubular valve casing therefor having ports with which said channels communicate at prmer times, the casing having alongitudinal oil duct along its top anda series of individual ducts communicating with it and disposed `opposite the grooves in the valve, packing in the .latter opposite the individual ducts, said packing and said grooves being wider than such individual ducts, and means Y for rot-ating the valve and for simultaneously reciprocating it slightly.

10. The combination of .a tubular valve casing having ports connected with an intake, an exhaust, and a cylinder; of a cylindrical valve mounted within said casing and having in its periphery channels so disposed as to properly connect the ports and annular grooves between and on both sides of said channels, packing in said grooves,

- and means for rotating the valve and simultaneously reciprocating it slightly within its casing. l

1l. The combination of a tubular valve casing having ports connected with an intake, an exhaust, and a cylinder; of a cylindrical valve mounted within said casing posed as to properly connect the ports and vannular grooves between and on both sides of sa-id channels, packing in said grooves, the valve havin elsewhere a groove in its periphery standing voblique to a plane ,at right 'angles to its axis, and a'relative'ly fixed elementV engaging said groove for reciprocating the valve in the casing asit rotates.

12. The' combination of a tubular valve 11G and having in its periphery channels so dising elsewhere. a groove inf its periphery standing oblique to a plane at rightangles -to itsv axis, a' screw removably inserted 130 through the valvel casing, and a roller journaled on the inner end of the screw and engaging the cam groove.

13. The -combination of a tubular valve casing having ports connected with an intake, an eXhaust, and a cylinder; of a hollow cylindrical valve rotating in the casing and having peripheral channels so disposed as to properly connect the ports, the valve also having a groovein its periphery standing oblique to a plane at right angles to its axis, a screw removably insertedA through the valve casing, a roller journaled on the inner end of the screw and engaging the cam groove, and means for flowing a cooling agent through the interior of the valve.

14. The combination of a tubular valve casing having ports connected with an intake, and exhaust, and a cylinder; of a hollow cylindrical valve rotating in the casing and having peripheral channels so disposed as to properly connect the ports, the valve also having elsewhere a peripheral groove, a collar movably mounted in said groove and itself having a cam groove in its periphery standing oblique to a plane at right angles to the axis of the valve, a set screw through vthe bottom of the cam groove against the bottom of the groove in the valve, a screw removably inserted through the valve casing, a roller journaled on the inner end' of the screw and engaging the cam groove, and means for flowingV a cooling agent through the linterior of the valve.

15. `The combination of a tubular valve casing having p orts connected with an in-I take, an exhaust, and a cylinder; of a cylindrical valve rotating in the casing and having peripheral channels so disposed as to properly connect the ports, the valve also having elsewhere2 a peripheral groove, a collar movably mounted in said groove and itself having a cam groove in, its periphery standing oblique to a plane at right angles to the axis of the valve, a set screw through the bottom of the cam groove against the bottom of the groove in the valve, a screw removably inserted through the valve casing, and a roller journaled on the inner enc! of the screw and engaging the cam groove.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my 'hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE VON noTTwEILER.

Witnesses:

O. D. BALLSCHMIDER, A. L. LEAVENS. 

